Brandywine Passes Budget

June 23, 1992|by JENNIFER M. WATSON, The Morning Call

Brandywine Heights Area School District passed an $11.7-million budget last night that will increase the average residential tax bill by $74.

The 1992-1993 budget increases the tax rate 14 mils to 224, or a 7.14-percent increase. This is equivalent to $22.40 on each $100 of assessed property value. The average tax property value in Brandywine School District is $5,211.

Total revenue for the year 1992-1993 is expected to increase by $732,312. The amount of anticipated revenue from this tax will be approximately $5,312,655.

The budget also calls for a $554,418 increase -- or 5.4 percent -- in total expenditures. Salary expenditures increased the most, by $634,179 from last year. Benefits increased by $251,683, the second largest expenditure increase.

School Board officials said the tax and spending increases are needed to compensate for the growing number of students entering elementary school. Over the past two years, Brandywine has experienced an increase of 60 students, with 53 in the past year. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has estimated that Brandywine School District will have an additional 70 students in the 1992-1993 school year.

Because of this increase, the district will need to fill four teaching positions at the elementary school level. In addition, the school board is anticipating a 5 percent decrease in state funding, resulting in a $141,500 loss.